Billie Zangewa's silk tapestries convey a sense of fragility, both in the silk material and in the intimate scenes she depicts. Her work is multilayered, not just in her choice of material, but also in terms of the themes she explores.
What kind of artist is Billie Zangewa?
Billie Zangewa (born in 1973 in Blantyre, Malawi) is a half Malawian half South African artist who hand sews silk fabrics to create collage tapestries, and who now lives in Johannesburg. Since 2004, her art has featured in international exhibitions including at the Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palais in Paris.
How does Billie Zangewa make her work?
Zangewa chooses to work with fabric and thread, hand stitching, sewing, and embroidering. She explained, “Fabric, this thing we all have a daily relationship with, is often dismissed by the world as mundane and unimportant, much like the daily, mundane work that women do to keep a home, a community and a society going.
Where was Billie Zangewa born?
Blantyre, Malawi
What inspired Billie Zangewa?
History of Billie Zangewa She was inspired by her mother, who worked in the sewing and embroidery textile industry, to pursue art. Since her graduation from Rhodes University she has continued to live in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Where does billie Zangewa live?
Johannesburg
What did Billie Zangewa use for her art?
Billie Zangewa's art practice was initially based around printmaking, but towards the early 2000s, she began working with raw silk cut-offs. The irregular cuts of fabric first presented a challenge to present complete images; a challenge that she ultimately turned to her advantage.